Age: 61
Hometown: Camarillo, California
Surgeon: Community Memorial Hospital San Buenaventura, Camarillo, CA
Procedure: eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®)
Surgery Date: February 27, 2013
Life Prior to Surgery: Adriana was born with scoliosis and always had a sore back. She also grew to be six feet tall, which she feels only made things worse. For years she treated her back soreness with pain medications and muscle relaxants, but these only provided temporary relief.
One day, in February 2013, Adriana was gardening when she noticed that her back was extremely sore afterwards. She subsequently went to bed and woke up at 4 a.m. the next morning unable to move. Adriana went to the emergency room, where she had a number of tests done to discern the cause of her immobility.
Once it was revealed that her spine was the cause of her immobility, Adriana was referred to a spine surgeon. She consulted with him and he recommended the minimally disruptive XLIF procedure. Although she initially feared spine surgery, Adriana reached the point where her pain was debilitating and forced her to be bedridden for several weeks at a time.
Situation Today: Adriana underwent XLIF surgery in February 2013, and then a second procedure in May 2013. After her second surgery, Adriana was walking up and down stairs within a few days. When she returned home, her friends and family were shocked at her quick recovery. Adriana didn’t need to take pain medications, since she was feeling so great after surgery.
“I was up and around immediately,” Adriana says. “I was able to go home, dress, and bathe myself right away. Now I have zero pain—and I haven’t been pain-free in my back for more than 30 years! I can do all my hobbies and activities, such as shopping and socializing with friends!”
14-NUVA-509